A cold smile curled at the corners of Liu Ruyan's lips. "Third Sister, you swear? Many people in this world make deadly oaths. How many actually suffer the consequences?"

Her gaze locked onto Liu Hongxing's eyes, her voice soft yet carrying undeniable authority. "After all these years, I can guess your schemes with my eyes closed."

Liu Hongxing's pupils gradually lost focus.

"Who exactly is that old woman?" Liu Ruyan pressed.

"My father's birth mother," Liu Hongxing answered mechanically. "She's been coming to our house since I can remember. After Grandma passed, she moved in permanently. Dad said she was just a hired caretaker."

Liu Ruyan's eyes glinted. "What's your father's real name? Where is the old woman from? Does she have other family?"

"She calls him Liu Ergou. No idea about her hometown—never been there."

"On the seventh night after Grandma's funeral, who pushed me down the stairs?" Liu Ruyan finally voiced the question buried deep within her.

"It was Dad's plan," Liu Hongxing said tonelessly. "He told you about the ghost visitation ritual on purpose. He had Second Brother and me tie ropes across the stairs and scatter marbles and banana peels."

Liu Ruyan's heart clenched. "I'd already agreed to go to the countryside. Why try to kill me?"

"The villa was in your name. Grandma's will stated it would only pass to us if you died."

"Was Gao Hongxia part of your scheme too?"

"Dad paid her five hundred yuan to replace someone else and get assigned to your work team."

Liu Ruyan smirked. Gao Hongxia had ruined her life for five hundred yuan—she must be drowning in regret now.

After extracting every answer, Liu Ruyan guided Liu Hongxing back to bed. Watching the peacefully sleeping Liu Hongying, she sighed softly. Sometimes ignorance truly was bliss. Liu Hongying's simple-mindedness had spared her from this web of filth.

Leaving the Liu residence, Liu Ruyan headed straight for People's Hospital. Tian Gui'e lay stiff as a mummy in her deserted hospital room.

After administering a sedative, Liu Ruyan transported the unconscious woman into her secret space. The white wolf curiously tapped its paw against Tian's chest—

"YOWCH!"

Tian jolted upright, only to faint again at the sight of a giant wolf muzzle inches from her face.

"Silver Moon, was that on purpose?" Liu Ruyan stifled a laugh.

The wolf pouted. I was just inspecting this strange creature.

"You're a wolf. Of course people faint when they see you."

Says the girl who trembled like a leaf when we first met, Silver Moon thought smugly, though aloud it praised, "Few possess your courage."

Amused, Liu Ruyan admitted, "I was terrified too at first."

Her gaze shifted to the unconscious Tian Gui'e. Now to pry more secrets from this woman's lips.